2 Kings 23:20
“And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men’s bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.”
This verse is part of the account describing the reign of King Josiah of Judah. Josiah was known as a righteous and reform-minded king who sought to bring about spiritual renewal in the kingdom of Judah. In the previous verses, we see that Josiah had been cleansing the land from idolatry and false worship practices.
In 2 Kings 23:20, it states that Josiah executed the priests of the high places and burned men’s bones upon the altars. To understand the significance of this action, we need to consider the context and the religious practices during that time.
The high places referred to in the verse were sites of idolatrous worship that had been established throughout the land of Judah. These were locations where people engaged in various forms of idol worship and offered sacrifices to pagan gods, contrary to the commands of God.
By killing the priests of these high places, Josiah was taking a decisive step to eradicate idolatry and false worship. The priests were the leaders and facilitators of these idolatrous practices, and their elimination aimed to remove their influence and authority in the land.
The burning of men’s bones on the altars was likely a symbolic act of desecration and defilement. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, burial was considered sacred, and the remains of the dead were treated with respect. By burning human bones on the altars, Josiah was symbolically defiling the very places where false gods were worshipped and demonstrating the complete rejection of idolatry.
Josiah’s actions in this verse demonstrate his commitment to fulfilling the commands of God and purging the land of idolatry. They align with the reforms outlined earlier in 2 Kings 23, which include the destruction of idols, the defilement of pagan shrines, and the restoration of proper worship of the true God.
Overall, 2 Kings 23:20 highlights Josiah’s zeal for the worship of God and his determination to restore true faith in the kingdom of Judah. It serves as a reminder of the importance of genuine worship and the need to root out any form of idolatry or false worship practices in our own lives, remaining faithful to God’s commands.
